Lucky Michael Griffin has a job most men dream of - he runs his own brewery.

The beer-lover has turned his home brew hobby into a business and launched a brewery.

Michael has opened his brewery in Durham City where he makes up to five brews a week.

From Bobby's Best Bitter to Penny-Ferry Porter and from Gala Bitter to Castle Keep Strong Ale he is supplying to pubs throughout Tyneside and Co Durham.

And he believes his Hill Island Brewery, based in Fowler's Yard, could be the smallest in the region and intends to keep it that way.

But next month Michael is wanting to let visitors in through tours of his one-roomed brewery and give ale-lovers tasting sessions.

He hopes to tap into the tens of thousands of visitors to Durham City each year.

"I have a job that everyone wants," said Michael, 29, of Framwellgate Moor, Durham. All my pals ask if they can have a job as a beer taster but I'm afraid I do that.

"I think I must be the smallest brewery in the North East. I haven't heard of anyone running a brewery on a smaller scale than me and I am planning on giving guided tours by the end of June."

Michael got into the brewery business after completing a placement in the Brewery Laboratory at Sunderland University when he was studying a degree in applied biology.

After his studies he worked for Cameron Brewery, then for three years at The Durham Brewery and was brewery manager at Cathedrals bar and restaurant in Durham City before it closed last year, but later reopened.

Michael said: "It was when Cathedrals closed I didn't have a job to go to so I decided to set up a brewery on my own.

"I bought a brewery plant for &#xA3;1,500 and with the help of about &#xA3;3,500 worth of grants from Durham City Council, the County Council and The Prince's Trust, set up the business."

In one week he can make up to 20 firkins of ale (one firkin is a 72 pint barrel). Each brew takes eight hours to make and five days to ferment. Anyone wanting more information about the tours can phone Michael on (07740) 932 584.